Pneumatic cleaner.



C. B. GILMORE.

PNEUMATIC CLEANER, APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1010.

Patented Aug. 13,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

QOLUI'IM PLANOOIAP" CO" WMNINGTDN, D. C.

G. B. GILMORE. PNEUMATIC CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.18. 1910.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 2.

ldiz/eeeea COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM 50.,WAININ11TON. b. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BURDETTE GILMORE, OF BLOOMING'ION, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALFTO LEWIS C. WALTER, 'OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed November 12, 1910. Serial No. 591,953.

' To all whom it may concern:

anism for cleaning the filter screen of the cleaner.

This invention has in mind certain objects to be obtained in a device otthis character and in order to accomplish these objects and produce adevice having numerous advantages, certain novel features ofconstruction have been embodied which result in a durable and eflicicntcleaner.

One of these features is a pneumatic cleaner entirely independent of theair current inducing mechanism used in the normal operation of amachine, which pneumatic means is adapted to draw a current of airthrough the filter screen for the purpose 'of cleaning the same.

Another feature resides in a scraper which may be moved along thesurface of the screen to remove the coarse dust par- ..ticles clingingthereto prior to the pneu- "matlc cleaning action.

Still another feature consists in a beater or agltator adapted toagitate or vlbrate the screen to assist in loosening the particles ..ofaccumulated dirt therefrom.

A further feature is found in the novel dust pan employed which isprovided with a centrally disposed dust pocket and has a series of rowsof pins arranged in the pan between the air inlet and outlets thereto so"that the air which is drawn into the pan must pass around the dustpocket through these series of pins which will collect and retain largeparticles of matter carried by the air current.

Other novel features of construction are shown on the accompanyingdrawings and described in the following specification, and the objectsand advantages of these features will become apparent as the inventionis understood. It will be obvious, however, that the invention iscapable of considerable variation in its general arrangement andstructural details and that it is not limited to the exact constructionshown and described, the true scope of the invention being set forth inthe claims.

Referring to the (l1I\\'lI1g'S l igure 1 is a vertical sectional viewthrough the center of a cleaner embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view but showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line-t4l of Fig. 1.

On the drawings 10 designates generally, a circular chamber which ispreferably disposed in a vertical plane and which is supported upon adust pan 11. The pan is removahly secured to the circular chamber bymeans of pivoted bolts 12 provided with thumb-nuts 13 which are threadeddown against laterally projecting cars 14 secured to a flange 15extending outwardly from the chamber 10. A gasket 16 is preferablyinterposed between the upper edge of the pan and the chamber to form anair tight connection therebetween.

Air is admitted to the dust pan through a pipe 17 disposed at an angleto a radius of the pan so that the air drawn into the pan will tend totake a circular course around the pan outside a dust pocket 18 disposedcentrally of the pan. This pocket is preferably circular in form andflares upwardly and outwardly at 19 and terminates at its upper end in avertical portion 20. A partition 21 divides the dustpan adjacent theinlet pipe 17. A plurality of series of pins 22, 23 and 24 are arrangedwithin the dust'pan around the dust pocket. as shown in Fig. 3, andbatlie-plates 25 and 26 extend radially of the pan to the inner ends ofthe series of pins 23 and 24. The air is withdrawn from the dust panthrough an opening, 27 provided in the vertical portion 20 of the dustpocket and a vertical partition 28 which extends only partially theheight of the dust pan is disposed adjacent the opening 27. It will beevident that as the air laden with dust, dirt and lint enters the dustpan from the pipe 17 it must pass between the pins of the series 22 intothe compartment between the series 22 and 23. The baffle-plate 25deflects the air from beneath the inclined wall of the dust pocket sothat it must pass between the pins of the series 23 and likewise thebattle-plate 26 insures the passage of air between the pins of theseries 24. These series of pins 22, 23 and 24 and the low partition 28relieve the air of the large particles of dust and lint which are takenup by the cleaner nozzle: and as the dust accumulates on the pins itforms a screen through which the air must pass during the continuedoperation of the machine. In this manner the coarse particles of dirt,etc, are removed from the air in the dust pan.

The lower end of the chamber 10 is equipped with a flange 29 whichprovides an annular seat 30 upon which is supported the filter screen31. This screen is cylindrical in form and open at either end as perhapsbest shown in Fig. 2. As will be evident from this figure, the diameterof the screen is considerably less than the diameter of the large part32 of the chamber 10, so that a passageway or compartment is formedaround the periphery of the screen. A air outlet pipe 33 communicateswith said passageway or compartment through the side wall 32 of thechamber. This pipe 33 may be connected with any suitable auto matic orhand-operated suction pump by means of which a current of air will bedrawn through the cleaner from the inlet pipe 17 around the dust panthrough the aperture 27 to the interior of the screen, thence throughthe screen where the dust particles are removed, to the chambersurrounding the same and subsequently to the suction device through theoutlet pipe 33.

A dome or bell 34 is removably secured to v the top of the enlargedportion 32 of the chamber by means of bolts 35 which are threaded intobrackets 36 secured to the interior of the chamber. A gasket 37 ispreferably provided in order that an air tight fitting may be effectedat this joint.

Around the periphery of the dome 34 and near the upper end thereof thereis secured, by screws 38 or other preferred fastening means, acollapsible bellows 39, said bellows being adapted to be opened orextended downwardly inside the screen 31. The lower end of the bellowsis glued or otherwise suitably attached to a cylindrical member 40 whichextends at its lower edge into a radially disposed flange 41 and isprovided immediately above said flange with a plurality of perforations42, for a purpose to be later described. An annular gasket 43 is Vsecured upon the exterior of said cylindrical member just above theopenings 42.

This cylindrical member is opened at either end but a conical-shapedplate 44 is arranged to normally close the bottom end of said member, asshown in Fig. 2. This plate is movably secured to the circular member bya plurality of pins or bolts 44 which are adapted to slide verticallythrough perforations in the flange 41. Said bolts or pins are rigidlyconnected with the plate 44 at their lower ends and carry at their upperends an annular scraper member 45. This scraper member as shown, has itsupper face .46 positioned thereacross for the purpose of screening theair which enters the bellows. In order to manipulate the bellows andscraper, a rod 47 is provided which is connected by means of a spider 48with the cylindrical member and extends through a packing gland 49 inthe top of the dome, and is provided with a handle 50 by means of whichit may be reciprocated.

It will be noted that the cylindrical screen 31 and the upper portion 20of the dust pocket are of the same diameter and the walls thereof aredisposed in substantial alinement. Furthermore, the scraper and thefiange 41 are adapted to fit snugly within the upper portion of the dustpocket and also within the screen 31 when the rod 47 is manipulated.During the normal operation of the cleaner, when air is being admittedto the dust pan through the pipe 17 and after being filtered by thescreen 31, is withdrawn through the pipe 33, the parts assume theposition shown in F ig. 2. In this position the plate 44 is supported bya pin 51 extending upward from the center of the dust pocket, and saidplate in conjunction with the flange 41, forms a closed cover for thedust pocket, which prevents the dust and dirt therein from being drawnup into the screen 31 by the action of the vacuum device attached to theoutlet pipe 33. The scraper 45 which is rigidly attached to the plate44, is, in this position of the various parts, maintained above theopenings 42, thereby preventing the dust-laden air in the machine fromcirculating into the interior of the bellows.

When the screen 31 becomes stopped and clogged up by the dust and dirtwhich accumulates on the inner face thereof, it is desirable to cleanthe same, and, after the vacuum pump has been shut down the cleaning ofthe apparatus is effected as follows: The handle 50 is grasped and drawnupwardly thereby raising the cylindrical member 40 so that the flange 41is engaged beneath the scraper 45, as shown in Fig. 1. As the upwardmovement of the cylindrical member is continued the upper edges of thescraper engage with the inner surface of the screen and scrape off thedust and particles of dirt which may be adhering thereto, said dirtbeing delivered upon the plate 44 through the openings 42 in the sidewall of the cylindrical member beneath the gasket 43. It will be evidentthat as the bellows are collapsing, during the upward movement of thehandle 50, the air therein is forced out through the lower end thereofand this current of air expelled from the bellows will blow the dirtwhich is delivered upon the plate 44 by the scraper off the edges of theplate, said dirt falling into the dust pan where it will be collected.To assist the scraper in removing the dirt from the screen on theclosing movement of the bellows, I have provided a plurality of beatersor agitators which are adapted to repeatedly strike the screen and shakeor vibrate the same so that the dirt clinging thereto will fall upon thescraper and be delivered to the dust pocket. These beaters or agitatorscomprise a friction roller 52 carried by a bracket 53 supported on thescraper. The friction roller is adapted to be rotated in acounterclockwise direction upon upward movement of the scraper, as shownin Fig. 2, by the frictional engagement between the roller and the innerface of the screen. A ratchetwheel 55 is rotatably mounted co-axiallywith the friction roller, and a pawl 54 pivotally mounted on the side ofthe roller is adapted to rotate the ratchet-wheel with the roller whenthe scraper is moved upwardly. A yielding member 56 is secured to thescraper and so that its upper end normally rests against the screen. Aninwardly projecting arm 57, however, is adapted to be engaged, uponrotation of the friction roller, by a plurality of pins 58 extendinglaterally from the ratchet-wheel 55. It will be evident that as theroller is revolved these pins will successively engage the arm andretract the member 56 a short distance from the screen. As each pinpasses out from under the arm 57 the resiliency of the arm 56 will causeits upper end to strike against the screen and vibrate or agitate thesame to shake the dust therefrom. After the rod 47 has been raised untilthe scraper has traveled to the top of the screen 31, the direction ofmovement of the cylindrical member- 40 is reversed. hen the handle 50 isdepressed the frictional engagement between the sides of the scraper 45and the screen will cause the scraper to be elevated relatively to theflange 41 into the position shown in Fig. 2. As the parts movedownwardly the scraper 45 will form a tight engagement with the gasket48 and the plate 44 will close the bottom of the member 40. A passagewayis now established between the flange 41 and the scraper 45 throughwhich air will be drawn into the bellows 39 as the bellows is extended.This current of air which is sucked through the screen 31 into thebellows will remove from the screen all fine dust and dirt which may belodged in its meshes, and this dirt carried into the cylindrical member40 by the inrushing current of air will be deposited against the lowerface of the screen 46. "Wh en the parts are depressed until they are inthe position shown in Fig. 2 and are supported by the pin 51 the deviceis again ready for normal operation. When the handle is raised a secondtime the fine dust which was removed from the screen 31 and depositedagainst the lower face of the screen 46 will be blown off from saidscreen and deposited in the dust pocket by the current of air which isforced out of the bellows as it collapses.

It will be evident from the above description that by simplyreciprocating the rod 47 the filter screen is first beaten and agitatedmechanically and subsequently it is subjected to the action of a currentof air which is drawn therethrough in the opposite direction to thecurrent of air which is set up during the normal operation of themachine and that all of the dirt and dust removed from the screen isdeposited in the dust pocket. This dust pocket, during the normaloperation of the machine, is covered to prevent the escape of the dustand dirt collected therein. When a quantity of dust has been collectedin the dust pan by the pins and in the dust pocket from the screen, thepan may be removed by simply loosening the thumb-nuts 13 and taken toany desirable dumping place without the necessity of carrying the wholemachine out doors.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be obvious that many minor mechanical details may bechanged and that various alterations in the size and proportion of theparts may be resorted to without departing from the essence of thisinvention or sacrificing any of the material advantages thereof.

\Vhat I desire to claim is:

1. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a stationary filterscreen, a device adapted to traverse the surface of said screen toremove the dirt therefrom, and means for causing said device to removethe dirt from said screen by pneumatic action during its travel in onedirection only.

2. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindricalfilter screen removably mounted therein, a pneumatic device arrangedradially of the screen to communicate with a portion only of said screenat any given time, and means for actuating said pneumatic device toclean said screen.

3. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a screendisposed within said chamber, and reciprocatory pneumatic means,independent of the air current inducing mechanism employed during theoperation of the cleaner, adapted to be traversed across the surface ofsaid screen for removing the dirt therefrom by pneumatic action duringits travel in one direction only.

4. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposedchamber, a cylindrical screen located therein, a passage for theadmission of air to the interior of said screen, and pneumatic meanslocated within the screen for removing the accumulation of dirt from theinner surface of the screen.

5. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combina tion of a chamber, a screendisposed therein, a bellows arranged within said chamber, and meansattached to the bellows and forming a passageway communicating at oneend with the interior of the bellows and having its other end disposedadjacent the screen whereby upon manipulation of the bellows successiveareas of said screen will be communicated with said bellows throughwhich air will be drawn to remove the particles of dust adheringthereto.

6. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a cylindrical chamber, acylindrical screen mounted therein, a pipe communicating with theinterior of said chamber outside the screen for withdrawing air throughthe screen, means for mechanically disloc ging particles of dustadhering to the interior of the screen, and pneumatic means for drawingair through the screen from the exterior thereof to remove fineparticles of matter from the mesh of the screen.

7. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a bellows, ascraper carried thereby and means for simultaneously closing saidbellows and moving said scraper along the inner surface of said screento remove particles of dust adhering to the screen, and, to subsequentlyopen said bellows to further clean the screen by pneumatic action.

8. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a collapsiblemember normally disposed within said screen, a scraper carried by thelower end of said collapsible member and movable relatively thereto,leans for collapsing said member and simultaneously moving the scraperalong the face of the screen to remove the dust therefrom and forsubsequently opening said member to draw air through the screen for thepurpose of removing fine particles of dust therefrom which were notremoved by the scraper.

9. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a screendisposed therein, a passageway for admitting air to the interior of thescreen, a member disposed inte riorly of said screen, and means wherebysaid member may be moved longitudinally of said screen to mechanicallyremove the dirt from the surface of the screen when actuated in onedirection and to pneumatically clean the screen when actuated in theopposite direction.

10. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a circularscreen disposed therein, a collapsible bellows arranged within saidchamber, a cylindrical member secured to one end of said bellows andprovided with a radially disposed flange, and a plate movably secured tosaid cylindrical member.

11. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a cylindrical screendisposed above a dust pocket, a collapsible bellows normally locatedwithin said screen, a cylindrical member attached to the lower end ofsaid bellows, provided with a radial flange adapted to fit within thetop of said dust pocket, and a scraper movably secured to saidcylindrical member above the flange whereby when said member is moved inone direction the scraper will remove the accumulated dirt from theinterior of the screen and when moved in the other direction will form apassageway between the scraper and flange through which air may be drawnthrough the screen for further cleaning the same.

12. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindricalscreen disposed within said chamber, a collapsible bellows secured atone end to the upper part of said chamber, a cylindrical member attachedto the lower end of said bellows and provided with a radially disposedflange, and a plurality of openings above the flange, a scraper movablyconnected to saidcylindrical member above the flange, a plate fixedlysecured to said scraper below the flange, and means for reciprocatingsaid cylindrical. member within the screen to close and open the bellowsand successively es tablish communication between the interior of thebellows and the screen above and below said scraper.

13. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, an open-endedcylindrical screen disposed within said chamber, a bellows, acylindrical member provided with a radial flange and a plurality ofopenings through the walls of the member above the flange, a platenormally forming a bottom to said member, a scraper surrounding saidmember above the flange and fixedly secured to said plate, and means formoving the cylindrical member relatively to the scraper and plate toform a passageway through which material from above the scraper may bedelivered below the radial flange, and subsequently to form a passagewaybetween the scraper and the flange whereby material above the flange maybe discharged into the cylindrical member.

14:. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposedchamber, a cylindrical screen located therein, a collapsible bellowssecured at one end to the upper part of said chamber, a cylindricalmember attached to the other end of said bellows and provided with aplurality of openings through its sides, a scraper slidably connected tothe cylindrical member, a screen disposed across the mouth of saidbellows, a plate normally serving as a bottom to said cylindrical memberrigidly attached to said slidable scraper, and means for reciprocatingsaid cylindrical member within the screen whereby dirt will be drawnfrom the screen into said cylindrical member by the bellows andsubsequently discharged from said cylindrical member beneath the lowerend thereof.

15. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a scraper,means for moving said scraper along the screen to remove the dirttherefrom, and means carried by the scraper for beating the screen uponmovement of the scraper in one direction.

16. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a scraperadapted to be moved in one direction to se ape the dust particles fromthe screen, a beater carried by said scraper constructed to beat thescreen when the scraper travels in one direction and to move idly withthe scraper in the opposite direction, means for operating said scraperand beater, and a pneumatic device adapted to be actuated by saidoperating means to pneumatically clean the screen as the scraper andbeater are returned to normal position.

17. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindricalscreen disposed therein, a dust pan removably secured to said chamber,provided with a dust pocket located beneath said screen, an air inletpipe opening into said dust pan, and a plurality of rows of pinsdividing said dust pan into a plurality of compartments, said pins beingadapted to retain the coarse particles introduced into said pan throughsaid air inlet pipe.

18. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a dust pan, provided witha dust pocket, an air inlet pipe communicating with the interior of thepan outside the dust pocket, a plurality of rows of pins ar tinged insinuous formation and dividing the dust pan into a plurality ofcompartments, and a battle-plate disposed adjacent each row of pins toinsure that the air induced by said inlet pipe shall pass successivelythrough each row of pins.

19. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposedchamber, a screen located therein, a dust pan removably secured to thebottom of said chamber, and having a dust pocket located beneath saidscreen, a partition located at one side of said dust pan, an air inletpipe located near said partition, a cover for said dust pocket, thewalls of said dust pocket being provided above said cover with anopening adjacent said partition in the dust pan but on the opposite sidethereof from the air inlet pipe, and a series of pins arranged in saiddust pan around said dust pocket between which the air must pass aroundthe pocket from the air inlet pipe to the opening on the opposite sideof said partition.

20. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a vertically disposedchamber, :1 cylindrical screen located therein, a dust pan removablysecured to said chamber, and having a dust pocket located therein, abellows attached at one end to the top of said chamber adapted to bemanipulated inside said screen, a cylindrical member provided with aradial flange secured to the lower end of said bellows, a plate movablysecured to said member, said plate and flange normally forming a coverfor said dust pocket, and means located in said dust pocket for normallysupporting said cover.

21. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a screendisposed therein, an open-ended bellows suspended from the top of saidchamber, a screen positioned across the mouth of said bellows, a dustpan, provided with a dust pocket disposed beneath said bellows, a platenormally forming a bottom for the bellows and a top for said dustpocket, and means for moving said bellows relatively to the plate toestablish communication between the interior of the bellows and the dustpocket.

22. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a chamber, a cylindricalopen-ended screen disposed therein, a dust pan, equipped with a dustpocket, a passageway from the dust pan through the upper end of saiddust pocket communicating with the interior of said screen, a cover forsaid dust pocket normally disposed beneath said passageway, said covercomprising a member provided with a radial flange and a centrallydisposed plate movably secured to said flange whereby a passageway maybe established between said flange and plate, a bellows attached to saidmember, means for closing said bellows to blow the material on saidplate over the edges thereof into the dust pan and for opening saidbellows to suck the dirt from said screen onto said plate.

23. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a screen, a screencleaning device, means for moving said device along the surface of thescreen to remove the dirt therefrom, and means carried by said devicefor agitating the screen upon movement of the device in one directionwhereby to shake from the screen particles of dirt adhering thereto.

CHARLES BURDETTE GILMORE.

Witnesses:

I. J. WILSON, H. M. Human.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

